A Major Trade Scenario Emerges for Patrik Laine as He Struggles in Columbus
Can a Change in Scenery Help Patrik Laine with His Struggles This Season
Thursday night Laine scored a goal, his fifth of the season. He also was injured in the game adding to his frustrations both with the team and himself.
This is not the first time he has been hurt this year, missing nine games to a concussion earlier this season and three additional games for illness. The worst blow was when he was a healthy scratch from the Flyers game on November 19th. He added,
"the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to me.»
Patrik Laine went to the locker room holding his shoulder after this awkward collision with Lagesson#CBJ pic.twitter.com/HRQ5jt5hUS— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) December 15, 2023
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The Former First Round Pick Could Land In A Trade with Another Eastern Conference Team
There have been talks that he was unhappy in Columbus and even looked uninterested on the ice, as the Athletic's Eric Duhatschek pointed out. Dubatschek even suggested that the Washington Capitals could be a good place for Laine to become the successor to Alex Ovechkin.
«That supreme, almost-Ovechkin-like confidence Laine once had in his ability to score goals seems as if it's completely disappeared. Could landing in Washington, as potentially Ovechkin's successor, be the change of venue that he needs? Hard to say. Maybe it would.»
But as the Ottawa Sun's Bruce Garrioch reports, Laine's salary could be an issue with trying to trade him. Laine is signed through 2025-26 with an average annual value of $8.7 million and a 10-team no-trade clause, per Cap Friendly.
«There has been talk that Laine may be traded but, let's be clear, he has never asked to be moved. His deal runs through the 2025-26 campaign and, unless the Jackets are willing to eat a portion of the contract, then there's no chance Laine is going anywhere,» said Garrioch.
The goal was a chance for Laine to show he is still in this with the Blue Jackets, and they may have a chance to become a top contender. But the injury he sustained Thursday Night against Toronto could have lingering effects. He did not return to the lineup and is out for 6-8 weeks.
INJURY UPDATE: Blue Jackets F Patrik Laine (upper body injury) will not return to tonight's game at Toronto. #CBJ— CBJ Public Relations (@BlueJacketsPR) December 15, 2023
As Read on: Hockey Feed - Monster trade scenario emerges for Patrik Laine!
| POLL | ||
15 DECEMBRE | 317 ANSWERS A Major Trade Scenario Emerges for Patrik Laine as He Struggles in Columbus Should the Blue Jackets Consider Moving Patrik Laine? | ||
| Yes | 252 | 79.5 % |
| No | 65 | 20.5 % |
| LIST OF POLLS | ||
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